Bio-fuels and Hybrids look out….Karma is coming!

Image by crazytales562 

Bio-fuels used to be all the rage and in some cases, they still are.  Whether you are talking about ethanol made from corn or bio-fuels made from algae or anything in between, you are bound to drum up some interest.  Hybrids also peak interests and are still among the top eco-friendly cars, but you haven’t seen anything yet….Karma is coming.

While watching TV the other night, I saw a commercial for a sporty-looking car.  It looked like a top of the line sports car, but was apparently a hybrid that could get up to 100 mpg!  Wow, I had to check that one out further.  This is what I found.

Fisker Automotive (a green American premium sports car company) is coming out with, what they are stating is, the world’s first eco-chic car created in an equally eco-friendly facility.  This car isn’t your run-of-the-mill hybrid, it is a stylish, classy American-made hybrid sports sedan able to fit four adults comfortably and look good doing so.  And who could expect less from Henrik Fisker, who creations include the BMW Z8 and Aston Martin DB9.

But what’s so different about this particular car?  Fisker says it best on their website:

“The Karma uses Q-DRIVE plug-in hybrid technology, developed exclusively for Fisker Automotive by Quantum Technologies.  A fully-charged Karma burns no fuel for the first 50 miles.  Venture further and the gasoline engine turns a generator to charge the lithium ion battery.  Once the 50-mile electric range has been exceeded, the car operates as a normal hybrid vehicle.  This balance of electric and gas range makes it entirely possible that Karma drivers who charge their car overnight and commute less than 50 miles a day will achieve an average fuel economy of 100 mpg (2.4L/100km) per year.”

So, it’s got plug-in hybrid technology, goes from 0-60 in less than 6 seconds, reaches top speeds of 125 mph, has two driving modes, has a solar panel roof, has regenerative brakes and with its low center of gravity provides the great driving dynamics typical of a sports car.  Then above all that, you don’t even burn any fuel for the first 50 miles!  Nice!

If you want to get one of these cars, scheduled to be released in 2010, you’d better pre-order now.  Effective Jan 1st, the deposit amount is $5000, with pricing estimated to start at about $87,900.  Signature Edition models are already sold out.  You can also make a deposit on the Fisker convertible – the Karma S.  The deposit amount for that is $25,000.

For most of us, using bio-fuels, fuel additives or sticking with the existing hybrids are right in line with what we can do to keep down harmful emissions and increase fuel economy…but for those who can afford it, check out Fisker Automotive and the Karma.  Who knows…Karma might be what you need!